Parental touch decreases how strongly a newborn baby's brain responds to a painful medical jab, stated new research.
Skin-to-skin Contact Do Not Improve Interaction Between Mother and Preterm Infant, Says Study
Skin-to-skin contact between parent and infant has proved to have positive effects for the infant's development - but there are no clear results regarding the effect on the interaction between mother and infant.
Skin-to-skin contact between parent and infant has proved to have positive effects for the infant's development - but there are no clear results regarding the effect on the interaction between mother and infant.
‘There is more activity in newborn babies' brains in reaction to the pain when a parent was holding them through clothing, than without clothing.
’
"While we cannot confirm whether the baby actually feels less pain, our findings reinforce the important role of touch between parents and their newborn babies." Study Details
- 27 infants, 0-96 days old and born premature or at term age, were involved in the study.
- Scientists measured the infants' response to a painful but clinically required heel lance (blood test).
- Brain activity was recorded with EEG (electroencephalography) electrodes placed on the scalp.
- The babies were either held by their mother skin-to-skin.
- Initial brain response to the pain was the same, but as the heel lance elicited a series of four to five waves of brain activity.
- The brains of the babies that remained in the cot or incubator reacted less strongly to the pain than those held in clothing.
- Skin-to-skin groups did exhibit slightly decreased responses in terms of facial expression and heart rate.
- The babies' brain responses were dampened in the skin-to-skin group, but followed a different neural pathway. Joint senior author, Professor Rebecca Pillai Riddell (Department of Psychology, York University, Canada) said: "The slightly delayed response was dampened if there was skin contact with their mother, which suggests that parental touch impacts the brain's higher level processing. The pain might be the same, but how the baby's brain processes and reacts to that pain depends on their contact with a parent.
First author, Dr Laura Jones (UCL Neuroscience, Physiology & Pharmacology) said: "Newborn babies' brains have a high degree of plasticity, particularly those born preterm, and their development is highly dependent on interactions with their parents. Our findings may lend new insights into how babies learn to process threats, as they are particularly sensitive to maternal cues."
Potential Dangers During Skin-to-skin Contact for Mother and Baby Following Cesarean Section Birth Revealed
New study has reported the potential dangers of allowing skin-to-skin contact for mother and baby in the operating room, following a Caesarean section birth.
New study has reported the potential dangers of allowing skin-to-skin contact for mother and baby in the operating room, following a Caesarean section birth.
Baby Separated From Mother Suffers Stress: Research
Separating babies from their mothers is stressful to the baby, research published in Biological Psychiatry provides new evidence.
Separating babies from their mothers is stressful to the baby, research published in Biological Psychiatry provides new evidence.
Quiz on Baby Development Milestones - Age 1 to 4 years
Are you wondering if your bundle of joy is growing and developing normally? Then take this quiz on baby development milestones. Do note that this quiz is only a guide and not the last word on baby development milestones.
Are you wondering if your bundle of joy is growing and developing normally? Then take this quiz on baby development milestones. Do note that this quiz is only a guide and not the last word on baby development milestones.
